http://www.bluejayway.ca
Cruz may have owned him in earlier matchups but last Saturday Towers shut him down. With Cruz going 0 for 3 off of Towers and nothing hit was threatening at all.

"I'm very happy here. I like the guys, the staff, the city and I'm playing every day.

"To be honest, though, if they end up trading me, I'd be excited to go to a pennant contender. But, if J.P. comes and tells me that, first question I'd ask him is, `Do you want me back next year?'"

As I was getting at yesterday, more in line with Cat however, is that there's a way you can handle situation where you can trade a player and still have that player want to play for you in the near future.

I think it largely depends on the personalities involved. There may not be a way you can handle that situation. If I was Cat and someone did that to me, I don't think I'd talk to them again, no matter what they told me.

Spencer Fordin's article is interesting. Fordin indicates that JP feels Adams probably needs a half-season of triple A next year, and also that both League and Vermilyea are headed for the bullpen.

The article contains an omission, as well. Charleston and Dunedin were first-half winners. Auburn, Pulaski, and (prior to yesterday) New Hampshire are in first place in their divisions.

This season, Toronto has found four call-ups that could be long-term keepers: Dave Bush and Alex Rios, Jason Frasor and Vinnie Chulk. Riccciardi said if they can do that again next year, they'll be in solid shape.

Rios and Bush, yes. I'm not as sold on Frasor or Chulk. Frasor had terrific strikeout numbers in the minors, but he was always old for his leagues. He turns 27 next month and there's no mistaking him for a young prospect anymore. He was never greatly adept at keeping runners off base; he just overpowered batters with his stuff (340 K in 330 minor-league IP). Now in the majors, his K numbers are starting to drop (32 in 45 innings this season), and I sense that the league is adjusting. If he doesn't adjust back, he'll be taking the Corey Thurman Train back to the minors.

As for Chulk, he was converted to the rotation in AA in 2002 and was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Year. But his 13-6, 3.25 mark belied average secondary stats. He never had great strikeout numbers as a starter, and has only approached a 1/1 K/IP rate since going back to the pen. He's kept that ratio at Syracuse and in Toronto, which is very good; but his command has suffered and he's still allowing more baserunners than he should (42 in 32 IP); his July ERA is 5.54. Like Frasor, he's no kid: he'll be 26 next spring.

I'm not saying these guys aren't helpful, or that they're entirely fluky: they may both pick up new pitches or develop better command in the major-league pen. But neither is going to develop a whole lot more; they were both on the leading edge of journeyman status when the year began. If either of them is a useful part of next year's bullpen, then the Jays should consider themselves exceedingly fortunate.

"Orlando's got a chance to win a Gold Glove. So does Hinske."

And Brian Butterfield deserves a huge raise.

In the long run, I think Frasor will be better served as the eighth inning guy and Chulk the seventh.

Peterson might be better served to return to New Hampshire for a bit and regain his composure.

JP feels Adams probably needs a half-season of triple A next year.

I won't argue with The Man. I think Adams' bat is close to being ready right now, but I agree there's still questions about his glove. If JP thinks that neither Adams nor Hill are true shortstops, then the Cabrera talk wasn't just smoke, and shortstop is one of the two bats he intends to go get.

The good news, I should add, is that the Jays should have a lot of arms from which to choose for next year's pen. At some point in the season, Frasor, Chulk, Frederick, Peterson, Vermilyea, League, Arnold, Miller and even Rosario might all be available for Toronto relief duty. And that doesn't count on any veteran holdovers (I'm still in Speier's corner) or the chance that Lopez can be resuscitated. Pretty soon, Terry Adams and Jeff Tam will just be distant memories.

It was nice to hear Cat say the following:

"This year, it's the farthest thing from my mind, but if it happens, it happens and I'd deal with it. I don't think it will, though. I'm comfortable here and want to stay, not only this year, but for years to come."

He is the type of character guy every team needs -- stands up for his teamates, leadership, experienced -- and he is a pretty darn good hitter to boot.

Speaking of uber prospects in the Jays system, any update on the status of Mr. McGowan?

I'm all for seeing the Cat patrolling first base next season, as long as the Jays get another slugger at some other position (DH, LF?)

Am I the only one that doesn't think Cat is an ideal option for 1B next year?

For one, you'd be sticking someone at a power position with a lack of power (around a .150 ISO SLG). For a team that wants to be a power hitting team I'm not sure you can do this. You'd only have power in CF and average power at 3B. The rest of the lineup will have no power (depending on how the DH spot shakes out).

And more importantly he's going to miss at least 30 games each year:

1999 - 100 games played
2000 - 103
2001 - 133
2002 - 68
2003 - 133
2004 - 120 max

For a team with a very small margin for error I'm not sure you should be counting on Cat for 140+ games.

And while it's not a big deal, you probably need a platoon partner against lefties.

Did the online version of the Cheek article have the voting information for the Baseball Hall of Fame? I read the dead tree version on the train this morning.

Hijack: So I tuned into a few random moments of the Yankees vs. Orioles last night on TV. Top of the seventh, Orioles out in front by a mile. Then, the seventh inning stretch comes along. The shot of the Yankee dugout shows most of the Yankees taking off their hats and walking onto the field for God Bless America, but three of them went into the clubhouse. Three of them. Prinz didn't even take off his cap. He made a beeline right for the tunnel. And no one booed, and no comments were made about it on TV. You'd think such a rabid demonstration of unpatriotism would be noticed and showered with the kind of derision reserved for such acts, but I guess the Yankees have some kind of immunity that comes along with their uniform.

Maybe we need to pass this information to someone in the Boston press so they can blow it up into the kind of stink that will drive Yankee fans 'round the bend.

Don't expect any news on McGowan before the winter at the earliest.

He is the type of character guy every team needs

I've noticed this with the O-dog too as of late. He's always the first out of the dugout to congratulate a player, and he was half way up the line at third to congratulate Wells on the walk-off homer. He's bringing a sense of quiet leadership and support to this team that is just another bonus to that Gold Glove defence.

I've noticed this with the O-dog too as of late.

Oh, absolutely.

isnt that "i would ask if they want me back next year" referring to Zaun?

Oh, I don't know about the Yankee sniping. New York is the land of the American Immigrant, so one Song probably wouldn't force people to drop players like a Led Balloon or force emotions to explode like a Zeppelin.

(Nobody got the cuttlefish yet? Whassup?)

O-Dog is a leader, but I don't think he's quiet...

Speaking of uber prospects in the Jays system, any update on the status of Mr. McGowan?

No (except to say that the surgery went well, apparently), and there probably won't be until at least the winter. The timeline for TJ surgery is that it takes about four months before the patient is allowed to throw anything at all; and 12 months to get the player back to where he's ready to start pitching again. Guys often feel ready much sooner; McGowan's probably going to be itching to get out there and let 'er rip by the new year. But that's a mistake; however, by that time McGowan will probably be throwing well if not pitching.

McGowan will be rehabbing in Dunedin and will probably begin his light throwing in mid-September.

Pistol, you are far from alone re Cat at 1B. I think I was at both games last year where he blew his defensive assignments to lose both games for us. He's just not a glove man, period.

It looks like he'd make a great DH platoon with Phelps. Cat bats 1 or 2 vs RHP while Phelps bats 5 or 6 vs LHP.

I also think Brian Jordan is an interesting DH vs LHP option. Though old and injury-prone he continues to destroy lefties (3 yr avg = .963 OPS) and by all accounts he's a pretty good clubhouse leader. His salary this season of $1.25M is certainly within our means...

I mentioned before that I'd be happy with Cat at DH and Phelps at 1B, but if JP is going out looking for a slugging first baseman, then you could see a Cat/Phelps platoon at DH next season. In 104 AB against lefties this year, Phelps is at .308/.360/.548; in 152 AB against righties, Cat's at .342/.393/.480. That's a pretty fine one-two punch. I don't want to relegate Josh to platoon status for the rest of his career, but it could help him improve his game now and succeed down the road as a full-time player.

See, I have great ideas; I just don't type fast enough.

http://www.bat-girl.com/archives/000348.html
This is somewhat offtopic, but COMN for a hilarious Lego re-enactment of the Twins / White Sox brawl by Bat-girl.

This isn't related to anything, but if Kris Benson is the answer, i think you're asking the wrong question.

That re-enactment was indeed hilarious. I wonder if Marte was pitching with his right hand and Koskie was batting righthanded on purpose. Too bad Koskie didn't say "It's aboot honour".

I dunno, I was too busy laughing to notice these things!

If Batgirl is not aaron gleeman and Batgirl is in fact a GIRL, didn't we just find aaron gleeman his wife?

I should have linked that here yesterday. Batgirl is one of the best bloggers out there, incidentally... the Twins have a depth and breadth of fine blogging talent to boast of.

And Batgirl already had a husband, so Aaron is SOL.

Meet Team Batgirl.

Did the online version of the Cheek article have the voting information for the Baseball Hall of Fame? I read the dead tree version on the train this morning.

Yes it did, and this is a tremendous idea. I hope Paul Godrey follows through with this commitment - I fully expect he will.

Batgirl's Lego brawl reenactment made me laugh out loud.

The Star? Registration?

Bye-bye Star! Guys, please don't link there in the future.

(Incidentally, I've never seen such a complex registration process for a newspaper site... they must have 100 boxes on that thing).

Gammons says Bowa "could be fired in the next few days". Sounds like a windy rumor, but if so it's about friggin' time.

I was thinking Bowa could be fired after the just concluded sweep at the hands of the Florida Marlins.

Frank Catalanotto vs RHP
2004: .342/.393/.480, 152 AB
2003: .318/.368/.501, 421 AB
2002: .274/.364/.457, 186 AB
3YrS: .315/.376/.492, 1024 AB **

**3YrS = Three year split, 2001-2003

I don't see a problem with Catalanotto at 1B next year if we can find a suitable platoon mate. He can supply an OPS around .850-.870, hit over .300, and play good defense.

If we start the year with Gross at LF, platoon him with Johnson (.910 OPS vs. lefties in '04, .899 in '03).

That's a huge lack of power though. Signing a guy like Jose Valentin would be great to make up for some of that, though I doubt he leaves CWS. Or even less likely, Troy Glaus. We probably don't have the money to sign one of them without seeing a hit in another position (bullpen probably).

I lost patience reading Andy Juniper's Sportsnet.ca column that went something like "baseball is all but dead in Canada." I emailed him, telling him he had the most uninsightful and pedestrian of opinions, and that if baseball is getting less popular he's in part to blame for making it seem unfashionable to follow the Jays.

To my surprise he emailed me back. Now, I won't betray what he believed to be a private email conversation, but I think I'm in my rights to summarize that he said baseball in SkyDome this season has been completely dull and he would feel dishonest inspiring people to go to SkyDome as they'll most definately have a boring time... they'd have a boring time because the payroll is so low.

I'd like to share my reply:

Dear Andy,

Thanks for your reply, I wasn't expecting that.

Sorry if I was a little harsh in my first email. It's just that your column seemed to pick up on the same chord of every Jay-hating, rearview-mirror-gazing Toronto Star article. Times have indeed changed but the Blue Jay franchise is headed in a very positive direction. And it's infuriating when media types only harp on the negatives. As for the SkyDome being "pretty dull", I wonder if you've been recently. The last handful of games I went to I can only describe the atmosphere as electric. Vernon Wells hit a walkoff homerun last night. Monday night's game was a fantastic nail-biter. I saw Carlos Delgado swat a come-from-behind homer to win a game in the 9th. I've seen a game-ending grand slam. I've seen a four-game sweep of the White Sox. I've seen a Blue Jay victory come with the final play a wild slide at home plate. I've seen David Bush, Miguel Batista, Ted Lilly, Justin Miller and Josh Towers toss absolute gems. I've seen rookie Jason Frasor take charge and emerge as the ace of the bullpen. Now we can see baseball's most exciting rookie, Alex Rios, as the Jays new leadoff hitter. We can see Reed Johnson play the Ty Cobb style and Frank Catalanotto with heart on sleeve. Nobody plays covers the right side of the infield and shallow right better than Orlando Hudson. And Hinske's coming on with the glove and the bat. And fans at the game are enthused, as they ought to be. There's just this preconceived notion buzzing around the city that the Jays are duds and, gee, I wonder where that buzz is coming from? Not the SkyDome. Since their horrible start, after May 3, the Jays are 26-16 at the Dome.

As for the Jays "holding tight-and-fast with the purse strings", I wonder if you have an extra $30M you'd like to kick in? Or would you happen to have a great idea on how to find it? On what tree do millions of dollars grow? The Rogers ownership has only been trying to bring fiscal responsibility to the Blue Jays which can only be good to their long-term health. The Jays are still losing money, but less than last year, and not an alarming amount. Thus, the payroll will be increased next year, even though they're not yet in the black. That's supportive ownership. And I don't see what good it would do to sign a bunch of over-valued free agents anyway. JP is stocking our farm system so we'll be self-sustaining for years like Oakland is. The cupboard in the Boston and New York Yankee minor league system is bare, ours is full. The Yanks and Sox are already over the hill, what happens when there's no replacement parts? The Jays take first place, that's what. Instead of seeing the big picture and enjoying what is coming together here, the Toronto media has done everything possible to sabotage Major League Baseball in Toronto. It's short sightedness. And it's going for a cheap poignancy by being negative. The overhaul is happening now and you're not only missing it, you're misrepresenting it to the masses.

And don't rely on the "don't shoot the messenger" mantra. As an opinion leader you have a responsibility to have an open perspective and not distort the truth. When you put the thought out there that "baseball is dying in Canada" you are contributing to its death. That someone who was thinking of going to a game next weekend just read your column and thought "ah, never mind".

With all the injuries, bad luck, and poor middle relief this has been dubbed "the season from hell". But it's obvious there's a direction with this club, and we're just paying our dues so we can really enjoy when the glory days come.

Real Toronto baseball fans are so let down by the mainstream media that thousands per day flock to www.battersbox.ca - a forum for baseball-minded people who look past the Richard Griffins of the world and see the big picture. Here you can read real baseball opinions that are insightful without cynical posturing. I suggest you visit a few times before you write your next column on the Jays.

I don't see a problem with Catalanotto at 1B next year if we can find a suitable platoon mate. He can supply an OPS around .850-.870, hit over .300, and play good defense.

Not to mention the added flexibility of him being able to play the outfield or DH if someone else becomes available at 1B.

Keith, that response to Andy rocks!!!

I wonder if he will respond back?

Very good letter Keith. I have to admit I only found out about Battersbox when i was listening to Mike Wilner talk to someone who either visited or wrote here (i think wrote here). I have to admit I was amazed by the news and depth of information and the almost level of maturity of the writing. Although I do not live in Toronto at the moment, I was born there, lived there for 16 years and went to some games in Exhibition Stadium and the SkyDome. If I couldn't go to the game I was either listening to it or watching it on the TV and listening to Tom and Jerry with the TV muted. Sadly I left Toronto before the back to back World Series Championships in 92 and 93 and was kind of platooned here in the UK without any knowledge of what is going on. Thank you for the battersbox for having insightful writing and bringing a positive outlook to baseball in Canada, because the last thing I want to see is someone to think that Toronto doesn't want a team either and Baseball to become an exclusivly American sport.

(This kinda went on longer than I expected!)

Alex from the UK

http://www.canada.com/sports/soccer/story.html?id=195575B3-B6AA-41A6-8AF1-76A466F68127
BTW, Skydome currently has a grass field. COMN

Hey! Where did Don Zimmer come from?

That was awesome!

One slight inaccuracy in the article: Monday's Jays game is against the Cleveland Indians.

Paul, if the question is: "Who should I trade while all the other GMs in the league are rediculously high on him?", then Kris Benson is the right answer.

Keith, that's a fantastic letter.

What I love this year is how so many people miss what's going on -- rebuilding -- and harp on today like today is the end of the line. Someone posted the other day that it was obvious that J.P.'s bullpen building strategy was a flop, and I wanted to call them an idiot, because J.P.'s bullpen building strategy is not based around finding guys who fit into the Blue Jays' payroll and who might work out. That's the Yankee bullpen building strategy, and they can succeed with it because they have a lot of payroll space. J.P.'s bullpen building strategy is like the strategy for building the rest of the team: scout, draft, develop. Look at the players who have just started to come up. Now wait for the parade of the rest of them. When they get here, and it will be soon, LOOKOUT.

And KT, great point about the cupboard being bare in New York. Look at the Johnson trade rumors -- do they have anything at all to give up for him? And if they do, what will they have when they're done? The Yankees are poised to crash and burn in the next few years, and the timing is looking better and better for the Jays.

Why is Monday's game a 1:05 start? Is there some holiday I'm not aware of?

Uh, Rob, it's the August long weekend. So yes, there's apparently a holiday you're not aware of. ;)

There's a long weekend in August?

Call me uninformed, but I've never noticed. I've always been on summer holidays in August and one Monday is the same as the rest. What holiday is this?

http://www.toronto.com/feature/491
I've always been on summer holidays in August and one Monday is the same as the rest. What holiday is this?

Rob, this is the John Graves Simcoe Day Weekend! Don't fall for any of that civic holiday guff. COMN for a primer on this influential figure in pre-Confederation Ontario (nee Upper Canada) history.

Civic Holiday, aka Simcoe Day. But, employers are not required to give employees a paid day off, so it's not a real holiday in my books.

It is a holiday in Ontario only. If you live in Ontario and work in Quebec (as I do), you are out of luck. :)

OTOH, I got St. Jean Baptiste Day off...

So what kind of special plans and/or signage can we think of for the Cleveland series cheer clubbers? Im still riding the excitment wave from the excellent C.C. session at the Yankee games. Im in a cheering mood damnit.

PS. Sometimes I consider myself spoiled to look down upon my team from the rafters and see great character men like Sparky, The Cat, the O-Dog, V-Dub, Doc and formaly Hentgen and be able to just cheer wildly for them without shame. I think most teams consider themselves lucky to get 2 guys like that, we have a whack of them. ON ON BLUE JAYS!

Despite not being at work, I'll be unable to attend Monday's game. But I suppose I should start a Cheer Club thread, as the weekend is almost upon us.

Great response Keith. That's an excellent retort to the media types who like to only emphasise the negative aspects of this season.

Also, I'm impressed with Andy for responding to reader e-mail, especially critical replies, as many reporters will not do that. I hope he gives Keith's reply a read, and maybe it will move him to reconsider his opinions.

Despite not being at work, I'll be unable to attend Monday's game.

Which is typical, as I *will* be able to attend Monday's game, making it my first Cheer Club. I'm quite excited.

I dont see a problem at all signing Catalanatto and having him platoon with guys like Phelps and/or Johnson next year. With the injuries the team has suffered this year it might be a nice idea to have a solid backup just in case as well. If you figure on a DH platoon of Phelps/Cat, a LF platoon of Johnson/Cat/Gross, and then possibly 1B depending on who's signed next year in addition to any injuries, I think it would give the team some great flexibility and depth at a small price while getting all the guys the ABs they need.

Plus Cat is just plain one of my favorite Jays right now and Id hate to see him leave.

Civic Holiday/Simcoe Day, eh?
I understand. My dad always works on this holiday and my teacher mom gets the summers off anyway. So I do have some sort of excuse. :)

Eric Hinske's got a chance to win a GG? He's improved, but he's not close to Chavez, who has a better stick to boot, and is the incumbent. I'll chalk that comment up to inspiring the home team by praising progress.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/yankees/2004-07-30-new-yankee-stadium_x.htm
Yankees are supposed to announce details for a new stadium in the next two weeks. COMN.

Eric Hinske's got a chance to win a GG?

I think he'd be a fine recipient of the Governor Genral's award, better than all these windbag CanLit poets who get it year after year.

Hmmm.

Maybe I'm misremembering, but Catalanotto played some 1B last year and to my recollection he did not look comfortable at all. I'm not sure he's the 1B solution.

I have a question: What are the Jays going to do about their catching? Is Cash going to be handed the starting job again, or is Quiroz more ready than his AAA stats indicate?

I think he'd be a fine recipient of the Governor Genral's award, better than all these windbag CanLit poets who get it year after year.

Not to mention that those windbag poets can't hit a lick with runners in scoring position.

This is somewhat offtopic, but COMN for a hilarious Lego re-enactment of the Twins / White Sox brawl by Bat-girl.

Thanks for this link; it made me laugh at the office, which is always a nice thing :)

I was wondering what the holiday was Monday; while I couldn't think of its name, I knew it was starting at 4:30 on a near-by patio.

Yankees are supposed to announce details for a new stadium in the next two weeks. COMN.

It's good to see that Selig finally convinced George that his team couldn't compete without a new stadium.

There's a rumour on ESPN that Randy Johnson might go to the Dodgers in a four way with San Diego and Florida. One interesting fact is that Florida would send Choi to LA. Which I presume would mean that there would be one less suitor for Delgado in the off season.

And KT, great point about the cupboard being bare in New York. Look at the Johnson trade rumors -- do they have anything at all to give up for him? And if they do, what will they have when they're done? The Yankees are poised to crash and burn in the next few years, and the timing is looking better and better for the Jays.

I hope you're right, and think you are, but I'm wondering: would a Manchester United strategy be viable in baseball? If a team has a huge amount of money to spend, they could, conceivably, reach the postseason every year just by buying the best players as soon as their contracts expire, or trade for good players just by being willing to accept their contracts.

I'd like to think that such a strategy is not feasible in baseball because (a) the cost of a star player is too great, even for George, and (b) while there aren't a lot of stars around, there are too many for the richest two or three teams to hog all to themselves.

Comments?

Point (a) above should read "cornering the market on star players is too expensive, even for George." Me proofread real good...

I suppose it all depends on whether George actually has a limit, and if so what it is. I suppose his wallet isn't bottomless, but where would he draw the line? Not $200 million, obviously. $250? $300?

And while the Yankees may not have a whole lot of prospects, they still have all that money, making them a prime dumping ground for all those fashionably high contracts of a few years ago. Kevin Brown for Jeff Weaver, anybody? One of the Big Unit rumours had the Yankees taking the contracts of Alomar & Mantei, and it honestly wouldn't surprise me to see Todd Helton in a Yankees uniform if Giambi has serious long-term problems.

Whoah, blockbuster here. From Lee Sinins:

The Dodgers have traded C Paul Lo Duca and RF Juan Encarnacion to the Marlins for P Brad Penny, 1B Hee Seop Choi and minor league P Bill Murphy.

The Marlins also got P Guillermo Mota from the Dodgers in their trade.

Thanks, Lee

I'll comment on that, Dave.

When you get a free agent, you're paying them for what they've already accomplished with little foresight of what will come in the future. In most cases, free agents are either just at their prime or eclipsing their prime. And if you have to be competitive with your offer, that means you have to give long-term contracts. The Yankees are going to be stuck with Jeter and Giambi for a long time.

By the Man U example, the Baltimore Orioles would have won a handful of World Series titles in the past decade.

I'd like to see a study on how many free agents who sign long-term deals actually improve during the life of those deals.

R.Johnson, Bonds, Manny Ramirez (he's still got a long way to go - and Boston can't decide whether they love him or hate him), A-Rod spring to mind as WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get).

But who really knows whether Tejada while continue to terrorize pitching for the next 6 years? What if Beltran has peaked? Look at what happened with Mo Vaughn, Alberte Belle, Chan Ho Park. The 2004 Sean Green is still getting paid like he's the 1996 Sean Green, a far more imposing figure.

It's like you're consistently paying guys MVP salaries when they're no longer having MVP seasons.

To summarize in three words: Ken Griffey Junior.

Teams that rely on signing free agents are always playing talent catch-up.

$15 million times 30 (25 roster spots and 5 guys on the DL). I'd say 450 million in payroll is the CURRENT practical limit for the Yankees.

It would be higher than $450 million if the Yankees are willing to trade players to other teams and pay most of their salaries in the bargain. Then, when one of his thirty $15 million players doesn't work out, he could dump him on another team, and trade for another $15 million player to fill the gap, thus using other American League rosters as taxi squads.